During the investigation, participants wore blood pressure monitors to track hypertension. At the end of the experiment, those who slept for one hour a day saw their blood pressure drop on average by 3mm Hg compared to those who skipped the snooze.

"Midday sleep appears to lower blood pressure levels at the same magnitude as other lifestyle changes. For example, salt and alcohol reduction can bring blood pressure levels down by 3 to 5 mm Hg," said the study’s co-author, Dr Manolis Kallistratos.

Alex PierottiA one-time third-grade try-scorer, Men's Health's Digital Content Editor, Alex Pierotti, is obsessed with two things: the beach and his footy team. When he’s not researching the latest studies, figuring out the latest style trends or snacking on cashews you'll find Alex cruising on his board through Bondi Beach